Abject apologies are in order I”m afraid. The webcam IS operational but unfortunately something has ”gone adrift” between the camera and the inputting equipment for the internet and the signal is lost. It’s being worked on and hopefully will be ok shortly.
The tiercel and falcon are sharing the incubating the one not on the nest appears to enjoy sunning itself in this continuing fine weather. Today we had an unusual sighting of a pipistrelle bat winging its way across the valley in mid-afternoon.
The raven chicks are growing apace and their parents are working really hard to keep them fed.

Last evening the tiercel came in with a kill. The falcon who had been ”resting” for most of the day stole it away from him. He is helping with the incubation so it seems a bit hard that he should have food taken from him - that’s peregrine life for you!
Westcountry TV paid us a visit last Tuesday. We thank them for giving us TV time.
The weather is still glorious so we are welcoming lots of visitors to the platform.

The webcam is now in operation so we will be very happy if you are able to watch the picture from the comfort of your computer - but we would be equally happy to meet you at the viewing platform. We look forward to meeting you if you are able to get to us. We would also welcome new volunteer watchers .
The weather continues fine and warm the falcon has allowed the tiercel to ”babysit” [incubate] the eggs; the kestrels are still in the quarry area while the ravens continue to take exception to the nearness of the occasional near-flying buzzard.

The weather stays warm and sunny ”though cool at night. The falcon is happily sitting while the tiercel has been sunning himself in the oak trees. The kestrels are still around and mating but we haven”t seen any attempt at nesting on the quarry face. Yesterday the buzzards managed to upset the ravens by coming too close and were firmly chased away.

Yes we thought the peregrines would nest in the usual spot but the falcon has decided to nest on the rock face towards the side of the quarry. The good news is that the webcam gives us good pictures of her the view fron the platform isn”t!
Today the tiercel has been in the oak trees sunning himself while the ravens have continued to feed their four swiftly growing progeny. The kestrels are still around we haven”t spotted them in nesting mode as yet. A lovely surprise this afternoon was the sight of a fox gingery and with a white spot on its tail prospecting the edge of the quarry no doubt hoping for a meal of raven - it didn”t have any luck but showed itself to us in super sideview for photography [but we didn”t have a camera handy!!!}

We have had several days of variable weather a bit of warm some cool dry showeryall conspiring to make the watchers wonder what clothing to wear!
We have now seen FOUR raven chicks they”re growing fast and we see necks as well as just beaks at feeding. The kestrels have been around presumably still prospecting sites and the peregrines have been mating - the female seemingly very willing!!
We”re unsure if it is a new female this year - she perches on unexpected branches/ledges - and may even be considering nesting away from the site used for the pastcouple of years.

The kestrels have been mating so we can hope that they will soon start to nest the peregrines have been a little upset by the appearance of a strange peregrine [which has been chased away] and the three raven chicks” heads can now be seen above the edge of the nest at feeding time. The weather is sunny and quite warm.

On Saturday 24th we saw three little beaks coming above the parapet of the nest when the adult ravens came in and fed the chicks. So Mrs Raven WAS fooling us - she must have been sitting very low and started earlier than we thought.
It was a beautifully sunny day on Saturday contrasting with the grey and dull weather on Sunday. Sunday didn”t produce much movement the peregrines kept largely to the oak trees but the kestrels were at the top of the quarry in the afternoon presumably surveying the area.
We were happy to welcome visitors who seemed pleased that they could watch the birds through the telescopes again.

Today the raven was sitting high in the nest the pair change over from time to time. Could the young have hatched? Seems to have been a short incubation - or just haven”t we noticed??
The peregrines continue their mating spree and are guarding the nest so we are hoping that the recent cold weather hasn”t put them off! Kestrels have been seen around the quarry.

Passers by on the viaduct will already have seen the viewing platform now in situ. The watchers are getting ready to start welcoming visitors next Saturday [24th]so we look forward to meeting you..!